Zlatka P. Stojanova, Ph.D.

Meet the Researcher

Zlatka Stojanova, Ph.D. received a B.S in Biotechnology and a M.S. in Genetic Engineering in her native Bulgaria, and a Ph.D. in Human Genetics from the University of Utah. Currently she is a postdoctoral scientist at the House Research Institute, Los Angeles.

The Research

House Research Institute
Epigenetic Regulation of the Atoh1 gene during development and regeneration of the mammalian organ of Corti

The Atoh1 gene is both necessary and sufficient for auditory hair cell formation during normal development. It is also one of the first genes to be upregulated during regeneration in non-mammalian vertebrates. The project is investigating novel mechanisms of Atoh1 gene regulation that involve epigenetic modifications (not due to changes in DNA sequence). During the 2nd year renewal we will analyze the mechanistic links between the discovered epigenetic state of the Atoh1 gene and the Atoh1 gene expression.

Research areas: hair cell regeneration, genetics

Long-term goal of research: To better understand how is Atoh1 gene regulated in order to reverse the failure of hearing regeneration in the mammalian organ of Corti.